05-04-2026: The criminal imperialist war on the Islamic Republic of Iran has rebounded back against the West in several ways, including a crippling fuel crisis due to the closure (to some) of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. In fact, it should be noted that the Strait of Hormuz is NOT closed per se, rather, it is closed to those states waging an unprovoked war on Iran. Principally, this means the United States of America (US), its European allies, its Israeli proxy state – and vassal states such as Australia. Australian government claims that it is not a protagonist in this conflict are a vain flight of fantasy, as the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has deployed an E-7A Wedgetail spy plane and 85 troops, allegedly to assist the United Arab Emirates (UAE).[1] In reality, “protecting” the UAE is mere spin as the fact is that Canberra is yet again waging another unjustifiable war alongside Washington, where it is likely that many more ADF personnel than is admitted are engaged. Iran is taking hits, but overall it is waging a devastating asymmetric war, striking or demolishing US regional bases and the Israeli state on a daily basis.
Most expensive fuel ever
Fuel prices are fast approaching the highest they have ever been, with some areas within Australia copping over $3 a litre for diesel and petrol, and over 500 service stations simply running dry and turning customers away. On top of an already outrageous cost of living, these fuel prices threaten to drive working people and many small and medium-sized businesses to ruin, with the added danger of a full blown depression. In response, on the 30th of March the Australian federal government announced a halving of the fuel excise, currently at 52.6 cents a litre, which will reduce the cost of filling a 65-litre tank by around $19. In addition, the heavy vehicle road user charge has been slashed.[2] These measures are only temporary, being in place for three months. The state government in Victoria has declared that public transport will be free for the month of April, while the state government in Tasmania has declared that its public transport will be free for three months.[3]
While such measures should not be opposed, they are piecemeal and will not in themselves solve the crisis. In fact, they convey the message that the government is trying to “do something” when in fact it is a major part of the reason for the crisis in the first place. After attempting to pressure the female Iranian soccer team to defect to Australia while competing in the Asian Cup, the federal government soon announced that Iranian visa holders would be banned from travelling to Australia.[4] So much for its compassion for Iranians! The iniquity of the war on Iran is demonstrated above all by the US/Israeli strikes[5] on the Bushehr Nuclear energy plant in the country’s south, which has now been hit three times. The Australian regime is demonstrating it has no such concern for the well-being of Iranians, given its full- throated backing to the US and Israeli slaughter of innocents in the largest country in West Asia.
Stop the War, Lift the Sanctions
There is a quite simple solution to the fuel crisis afflicting Australia, and other vassals of US imperialism. The war must be stopped, and all sanctions on Iran and Russia must be immediately lifted. In particular, the sanctions on Russian oil must be withdrawn pronto, so that the Russian Federation may consider selling some of its vast stocks of oil to Australia. Yet it would need some strong indication that the Australian government is breaking from Washington on key geopolitical manoeuvres, and pulling back from its hostile actions towards Iran, Russia and the People’s Republic of China (PRC). It would mean, for example, the Australian government completely withdrawing all military support for the NATO backed Nazi infested Ukrainian state waging war on Russia with the assistance and direction of the CIA. It would also mean allowing the Russian Federation to complete or extend its lease on the Russian Embassy in Canberra. It would also mean recalling the Iranian Ambassador to Australia, who was expelled along with his staff last year after blatantly bogus allegations that Iran was involved in anti-Semitic incidents.
Australia is the most dependent country on diesel in the world. If supplies of diesel are not forthcoming, crops may not be planted, which could lead to food shortages. It is obvious that Australia needs to begin the wholesale switch to electrification from zero carbon energy sources. This should have begun more than five years ago, given the sheer scale of devastation that Australia has experienced through climate change fuelled floods and heatwave disasters. Yet this only indicates that Australia needs even further integration with Iran’s strong ally, the PRC. Socialistic China is the acknowledged world leader in electric power, from high-speed rail to robotics to EVs. Friendly and mutually beneficial relations with the PRC are essential for this, rather than military provocations of the Asian superpower in the South China Sea. Yet right now Australia needs fuel to stave off a potential economic collapse and/or depression. This means that Australia needs access to Russian oil directly, or through Russian oil refined in third countries.
The so-called left needs to wake up, and fast. Iran, Russia and China are NOT “authoritarian” or “imperialist” – these are ludicrous claims. It is more than obvious that imperialism is the US and its vassal states, and that they are the class enemy that is driving the planet towards world war and economic gloom. Imperialism is first and foremost aware that the rising multipolar world now has a material basis with which to at least offer the Global South an alternative to the virtually defunct US and Western dominated post World War II Bretton Woods order. Capitalist imperialism reached its peak long ago and is now in the stage of rapid decline. This is why the war on Iran cannot be assessed on its own, but only in conjunction with imperialism’s war on Russia, China, the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa plus 15 other states), Venezuela, Cuba, the Global South (90% of the world’s population) AND workers in the Global North. It is only the “Epstein Class” which benefits from World War III.
It is in the vital material interests of the working class to stand with Iran and the rising multipolar world – which has at least the potential to head in the direction of socialism, given Marxist leadership. We have a world to win. Victory to Iran! Lift the sanctions on Iran, Russia! Abolish AUKUS! No to World War III !
Workers League
www.redfireonline.com
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[1] www.aviationa2z.com/index.php/2026/03/13/royal-australian-air-force-boosts-middle-east-surveillance/ (01-04-2026)
[2] www.sbs.com.au/news/article/pm-slashes-fuel-excise-following-the-second-national-cabinet-on-the-fuel- (01-04-2026)
[3] www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-30/victoria-and-tasmania-free-public-transport/106512252 (01-04-2026)
[4] www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-25/iranian-visa-holders-temporarily-barred-travelling-to-australia/106496000 (01-04-2026)
[5] www.article.wn.com/view-scrap/2026/03/28/Bushehr_nuclear_plant_hit_for_3rd_time_amid_ongoing_US/ (01-04-2026)
Image: http://www.abc.net.au
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